Best Vitamins for Multiple Sclerosis

I take Women’s Ultra Mega Bone Density Formula multi-vitamins which have B12 included (833% RDA).

Also, Fish Oil was recommended for me by the Mellen Center for MS at Cleveland Clinic. I take both Cod Liver Oil capsules and Fish Oil capsules. And sardines a few times a week too.

Do they help? I think they might be helping. I haven’t stopped taking them since the MS DX in 1999, so I can’t say for sure.

I don’t do anything as far as restricting gluten. Isn’t that found in bread? I do eat bread. Maybe I’ll research that.

All things considered, I’m doing well for 10 years of PPMS and no disease modifying drugs.

Take care,
Karen

hi karen
i read ur post
i have ms and im not on any meds
was diagnosed oct 2010
im fine right now but i worry
can u tell me what u think i should do as far as which vitamins to take
im trying to b healthier too
ur post interested me
thx !

I would love to help you and give you some great advice about what is good for MS and what not, I do believe you can reverse it if you go on green leafy vegy diet. My wife is starting it today.

Kind regards,

Rachid

Sarine,
May I ask how old you were when they diagnosed you? I have had MS now 14 years and was on and off medication because they could never find ine that did not make me sicker. I have since been on rebif and was told that I had no choice but to take it or end up in a wheelchair. So my advise to you is get on something!

I follow the Swank MS Diet. (you can Google it for the link) Which is comparable to a Mediterranean diet: lot’s of fish, fruits & veggies, good oils (olive, for one),no saturated fats, no animal fats. It has similar, but specific suggestions for vitamins and omega oils.

It was also suggested to me to take tumeric, which helps with inflammation and cranberry tablets (or juice) to avoid bladder problems.

how is ur MS? does this diet work for u?
are u on meds at all?
thx
and i use tumeric in some foods like to color rice or potatoes when cooking
can u suggest something? thxxx

Since my DX last year I take:

• Centrum Silver (have to look at how much B12 that has)
• 1000mg Vitamin D
• Fish Oil capsules
• Garlic

I’ve also cut down heavily on red meat intake and try to eat sushi when i can.
I also went on copaxone immediately and i think that, plus the vitamins has helped me not have any relapses.

Looking at the gluten thing.. but i’m not sure i could give up bread.

One more thing, for Vitamin D, I try to sit in the sun 15 minutes a day, rather than try to get Vitamin D from pills/oils.

I’m so bad at taking vitamins and to make it worse my diet is awful. I have to cop on a little and start looking in to these things.

Along with the DMT (Copaxone) I take daily:

A womans multivitamin
1000 IUs of Vitamin D
3 days a week I take B12 for a lil energy boost
cranberry tablets
Omega 3
Emu oil (which is sorta like omega 3)

Also, for meat, I only eat fish, chicken and wild meat. Red meat is supposed to be bad for the MS but wild game is ok (says the naturapath lady I spoke with and a few other things I’ve read).

I was diagnosed almost a year ago.. Have had no new attacks since I started my DMT but the sensation in my left foot and fingers of both hands comes and goes whenever it pleases.

I find the only way I remember to take my vitamins is to leave them right on the kitchen counter in a weekly pill box so that I walk past every day. The needle is a lil harder to forget to take

For my MS, i eat a healthy diet w/lots of dark green leafy vegetables and something from the red/yellow/orange family every day. i am lucky in that i live near a spring where the water is a constant 72 degrees and i can swim year round. This helps me a lot. Also, some years ago a woman introduced me to a product made by duPont Co. which basically consisted of egg whites and vitamins and minerals, and had, after 25 yrs of research, proven to be beneficial to those with fibromyalgia. I tried it and found I felt better. I can’t afford it, so now I eat 3 egg whites daily from home raised chickens. I take vitamin supplements, mineral supplements and make sure i take a mix of the trace minerals. And i always remember that I own this disease, it doesn’t own me!

My husband has had MS for about 1 and half years. He was close to having to use a scooter all the time about 5 months ago. I was desperate so I have been trying a lot of different vitamins and supplements, kind of skeptical at first. I thought “why not” ! Any thing to help him. Now he is hardley using a cane, and only has bad days here and there, and they used to be constant! Here is a list of what he takes:
Vitamin D, All the Vitamin Bs, Vitamin D, VitaminC, Coconut oil, Cod liver oil, L-Tyrosine, Acidophilis, L-Lysine, papaya, Acetyl cysteine, acetyl carnitine, whole essential enzymes , CoQ10, and grape seed. A lot of these are amino acids to get the body back in a good state. We don’t have a diet change per say. We only drink distilled water and I try to buy organic, when it is on sale. I believe that these supplements are helping him sooo
much along with the prayer and support of his family. I hope this helped someone else out there who is wondering where to start with supplements. Make sure to look them all up before using them to make sure they are right for you!

hi–does ur husband use meds?
ur post was interesting and i need to take vitamins too
i do now but not sure if its enough
well, i dont think its enough
im not on meds
will b 2yrs this oct 2011 that ive had MS
im trying to b healtheir
any suggestions is helpful thxxx good luck to ur husband too

I was diagnosis with MS 2002. I have been pro active even before my diagnois and suspect I could have been diagnosis as early as 1997. I have tried so many vitamin therapy besides taking Copaxone which I started in 2002, stopped for ten months because I was doing so weel, but started again in 2007. It is really hard to know. My lst MS doctor was a major believer in antioxidants for free radicals. He seemed to be on the something so I took a lot for years. It may have kept the MS at bay for years. It is hard to know. I am taking one fist oil now, one multiple vitamin , 1 D vitamin, probotic just started and 1 extra c vitamin. My system has body tension on and off all day and I don’t know if its MS or menopause which I just started. I am so tried of trying to figure it out. I have medical doctors, an acupuncturist for years, a chiropractor for years and everyone has a theory. I also have MS in my family, and although I have not had an excerbation for a year and a half, I am running out of energy time during the afternoons. I use to be a morning person and still wake up. The only time now my body feels normal is in the evening. It is sad so I really do not know if the vitamins are a plus anymore which I believed for years or now making my inner sense of life worse.

Sorry this is not upbeat but for a proactive MS patient and person for ever, I am getting depressed trying to say alive in my body theses days.

hi jane
u will b fine
dont lose hope and stay positive
i read alot these days for MS
staying positive and finding humor in ur life can help in more ways than u realize
i dont take meds
a bit scared to
i wanna take vitamins
take some now and hope the added ones will help me
always stay focused!

I have my days too.I do beleive in prayer and,having Jesus in my life helps more than anything.I take all kinds of vitmins .Some times we take too many can cause problems.I think we need to stick probaly to the basics such as Vitamin D3,5000 from ms clinic in dallas.eat carrots&bananas ,chicken,sardines ,fish oil,multivitamin,Vitamin e,calium,cranberry pill.Remember this is not the end only the begining.

I was diagnosed in 2010. I had symptoms for six months before I went to the doctor. I am currently on copaxone which is working really well for me. Everyone has their bad days, thats just part of living with the disease but you cant give up. Find a good doctor and fight. Good luck

Hi Jane,

Stick to your regimen and maybe you’ll start feeling less fatigue. Make sure you are on all of the B vitamins too. They also recommend Ginko Biloba. Hang in there and report back often on how you feel!
Concerned,
Mairsa

I have primary progressive multiple sclerosis and I am about 85% percent better and hopefully will continue to be completely better in enough time. I tried many diets and I noticed I did seem to do better with no gluten and no dairy products, however, I was still suffering a lot. The one thing I’d like to point out at least in my experience was the importance of eliminating all grains, including corn and rice. When I gave up not only gluten, but all grains entirely it was like a miracle and all my nerve pain and weakness has diminished almost entirely I am able to work and have a normal life again, but gluten alone was NOT enough to stop my condition from progressing. There can be MULTIPLE allergies causing multiple sclerosis and I suggest anyone investigate the missing pieces in their elimination diet before surrenduring to the disease.

I wish I had known three years ago when I was diagnosed what I should be doing. If I had, I would have better vision today, I am sure of it. Since I found the right combination for me, I have been relapse free for 3 years.

Here’s what I do. I follow the swank diet. I can’t emphasize that enough. Give up the saturated fat, along with dairy and chocolate. The studies are there, the link is astounding.

I take 10,000 IU per day of D3. I also add magnesium and calcium (a study showed huge benefits of those three. Why not, if I’m dairy free, I add the calcium.)

I take B12, B1, B2, (B6 seems to make me feel worse), niacin has been shown effective and neuroprotective, I throw in grape seed extract and vit. E (the real thing, not synthetic).

Add alot of omega 3s (I take two table spoons of flax oil), Evening primrose oil helps too.

I also take inosine (google uric acid and M.S.), Nacetl cysteine, and alpha lipoic acid. I really recommend the ALA.

I have other things I throw in every now and then, Dhea, pregenelone, inositol, iodine, tumeric, but the main stuff I have already mentioned.

Buy the book by Dr Swank and the one by Dr. Jelinek. I’m convinced this protocol has arrested my progression. My doctor was talking chemo. nothing was working. I am now remodeling a house. good luck

In Aug I found out I have MS. I have been reading a lot about vitamins and diet and I get more confused the more I read. Thanks for all the real stories of what works for you. I appreciate all and any advice. Thanks

Dear Nancy…. are you taking a shot for your MS

For anyone who suffers from MS I strongly recommend you read the book by Dr Jelinek – Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis. All the recommendations in there are evidence-based and not plucked out of thin air. The most important supplement recommended (not mentioned in your article) is Vit D3 – there is some persuasive evidence that this does actually work. I take 5000iu a day and follow the diet recommended by him – basically vegan with fish. The Swank study also showed evidence for a similar diet, and importantly, strict adherence to the diet was crucial. Those who were ‘poor dieters’ faired no better than those who didn’t follow the diet at all, but those who followed the diet strictly had far better outcomes. It wasn’t a perfect study, but the results can hardly be ignored.

I was diagnosed about a year ago and when I was 28. I have had great results taking these:

Fish Oil: 4000mg *make sure the DHA and EPA add up to above 900 per serving*

CoQ-10- A little of everything

Milk Thistle- Very important for brain and liver function, shown to fight Alzheimer’s.

Choline and Inositol- Nerve and brain function

MSM- Fat and metal chelation

N-Acytle Cystine- Very important for brain and liver function.

Vit. C- Lots of it

And all of my B’s

D-3 seems to make my symptoms worse against what I read everywhere.

had optic neuritis sept 2010
got an MRI

went to a nuerology center locally and they said i have “clinically isolated syndrome”
thats another way of saying i have MS
i even asked them and they said no u dont have MS but u should start “copaxone”
im thinking what?

so diagnosed oct 2010 at kaiser w/MS officially
i have couple lesions from the MRI i took in sept and showed them my MRI report/x-ray …..

said to take the Evoc Potential test
my results were normal

now i need a lumber puncture

im scared but i gotta do it
will do so in sept i guess! and take more blood work and another MRI

i started taking these vitamins
magnesium
vitamin d w/calicum
zinc
super b-complex
vitamin c
vitamin a

my question is……….what else should i take? and how many units?? of each of listed above
thxxxxx guys

hi, I have yet to have a clinical diaginosis of ms, MRI’s are unconclusive so I have been recommended for a spinal tap to end this mystery. Can any one share their early symptoms? Thanks Sara

Hi Sara!
I was just diagnosed with MS a couple months ago. One of the first things I noticed was I was urinating very frequently and sometimes when I would get just the urge to urinate, it would feel like I might not make to the bathroom.
The second thing I noticed was I was having a difficult time swallowing, wether I was eating or drinking something.
Also, my right arm and leg started to feel numb, and like I had pins and needles running all over them. Eventually, the entire right half of my body felt this way. On top of all this, my muscles and skin felt very tight and I had trouble moving that side of my body.
I am also about to strart the Dr. Swank diet and just bought his book. I take a multi vitamin, D3, and probiotics, and looking in to taking some additional vitamins.
Fatigue can also be a huge sympton.
I hope this was helpful to you, the best of luck to you!

He Sara,
I was diagnosed 2 days before my 13th birthday which was only a couple of years ago because after having numbness in my legs up to my knees and, the big one, where afterwards I was diagnosed because I lost the vision in my right eye.
I had another relapse only a couple of months ago before I had my mid-year exams because I overstressed and my other eye’s eyesight began to go blind.
But I have been taking daily supplements and tablets such as:
Vitamin D3 5000IU
Multivitamin, and
4000mg of fish oil
I have been considering taking other vitamins also like vitamin B12,B1,B2 etc. to try and cut down on all of my relapses.
I have been on two treatments, Betaferon and Tysabri, and am about to start a third at the start of next year. I am unsure which would best suit my lifestyle as I still have school and need to find a time between all the studying for exams in order to take my medication.
It is tough being a teenager with MS, there isn’t that many people my age that I know with MS.

My husband was just diagnosed with MS this month. 5 years ago he had an MRI for facial numbness and headache. They said it was a small sinus polyp, but failed to mention the 3 brain lesions. He then had various other mild symptoms that were largely ignored by his various docs. In October 2011 he began having new symptoms (an exacerbation) including facial numbness and tingling, weakness in one arm, dizziness, wobbly walking, and really garbled speech (along with other minor symptoms). He looked and sounded like he was drunk. They feared it was a stroke. LONG story short, his MRI now shows about a dozen lesions and the spinal tap confirmed the MS diagnosis.

He is on Copaxone, but we also totally overhauled his diet based on this video http://blogs.mercola.com/sites/vitalvotes/archive/2011/12/05/overcoming-multiple-sclerosis-through-diet.aspx

He is also on D3, CO Q10, and a multi-vitamin. Within 1 week of starting the new diet and vitamins, his migraines are gone!!!

Hi All
It’s so interesting to read everyone’s stories because they are all different – just as everyone’s MS is different. I too take vitamins my concern is the amounts because incorrect doses can be harmful. I remind myself that vitamins are still drugs and need to be monitored by a doctor with blood tests and great care. My advice to anyone is find a good doctor who has lots of experience with MS patients (we’re talking hundreds to thousands of MS patients ) and who listens to you. Never go to your doctor appointments alone always take someone who can catch what you miss (I know I’m not the only MS patient with cognitive distinction ). Educate yourself but don’t believe everything you read. Most importantly take care of yourself because if you don’t you will end up in that wheelchair alone.

I was diagnosed with MS in1999.As far back as the mid eightiies I experienced numbness & tingling in my legs but these symptoms disappeared abruptly. Then in1998 I developed weakness in my left leg.After being diagnosed I chose not to take meds. I take systemic enzymes, apple cider vinegar,B vitamins & magnesium.Also,I eat healthy and exercise.Enzymes have improved my health the most significant!! They got rid of the tingling & spasms in my legs, AND the fatigue!! My left leg was so weak,I could barely walk on it but now I can walk normal. Balance is my main problem now as I still use a cane, but I hope to conquer that issue at some point, the natural way!!Don’t be MS sufferers, be MS recovers,as said by Dr.Cartwright,who is a MS specialist.

After many years of having “spells” off and on (that lasted about a month or so) where I was horribly fatigued with numbness in my arms, eye pain, joint pain, and knees that go out on a whim (no prior injuries) and many doctors visits, I had a really bad exacerbation.
I had started to smoke marijuana again for the first time in 20 years back in may of 2011. About a month or so passed (smoking everyday) when I started having horrible pains in my feet and calfs. It then proceeded to move into my upper legs and hips. When I smoked it was unbearable. I also got to where I could barely control the mouse, my eyes were darting all over the place, and I’d nod out like a junkie (fatigue was starting). Now some of you will want to attribute this to being high, but I was fine for the first few months. At one point when I had just smoked my left ankle gave out completely when I was walking. The thought then occurred to me that jeez, this is like frikn ms or something. I had a male supervisor with ms back in my twenties that walked around with a leg brace and had talked about it often. (He was on chemo).
So anyway, after reading about the diets and a lot of trial and error, I’m now down to eating just chicken, fish, almonds, greens (peas, green beans etc), and sparkling water. Salads with my own dressing (red wine vinaigrette, sesame seed oil, garlic, salt, and pepper). Everything else has “natural” (msg?) flavor added or soy! Almost no fruits as these seem to light me up too. Bananas seem ok for me though.
So anyway, after going on the diet in September of 2011, my fatigue improved within a few days, and my pain and stiffness has steadily improved since then. I still have some leg pain occasionally, so I have also started to intermittent fast. (eat every other day). Studies that I’ve read actually suggest that this may be really beneficial to overall health. Aside from what I’m using it for. Which is to give my body a break every other day.